Advocacy Update

744 lives saved due to our access to Naloxone … The Harm Reduction Action Center is pleased to announce that the Naloxone provided by the organization to the community has reversed 744 reported overdoses in the last 5 years. (12/17) For those just joining us, Naloxone is the antagonist to opioids such as heroin, methadone, and prescription painkillers. It is a prescription medication, but it is not a controlled substance and has no abuse potential. When administered in a timely manner, Naloxone reverses the potentially fatal effects of an accidental overdose, saving a life. It is a simple and effective way to combat overdose in the community.

Vernon teaches the Naloxone training at Harm Reduction Action Center, thanks to the law that passed last year, SB 15-053 Standing Orders with Expansion to Naloxone. Once a client completes the training, he dispenses the Naloxone via a standing order. He has trained over 2,000 folks overall. SB 15-053 was signed by the Governor on 4/3/15, allowing individuals like Vernon and other designated health educators at HRAC, as well as pharmacists and other community based providers, to prescribe Naloxone to clients under the standing order of a physician. This dramatically increases the availability of Naloxone in the community and has the capacity to greatly reduce the number of overdoses in Colorado.